Quantum imaging in 2026: overview
Quantum imaging uses quantum properties of light, including entanglement and photon correlations, to form images or improve sensitivity, resolution, or contrast. It can extract spatial information through correlated photons, sometimes when the photon that carries that information never interacts directly with the object. This makes the field relevant to low-light and dose-sensitive imaging, though practical systems still depend on reliable photon sources, sensitive detectors, and robust reconstruction.
Recent work is testing new ways to generate useful correlations and apply them in difficult imaging conditions. In May 2026, Xiamen University researchers demonstrated ghost imaging with photon pairs generated using sunlight, pointing to less specialized illumination. In February 2026, Brookhaven National Laboratory researchers used entangled X-ray photon pairs to image tiny samples, a route toward nanoscale imaging with lower X-ray dose. Source flexibility and dose reduction are emerging alongside efforts to improve noise resistance, image reconstruction, and imaging speed.
- 1Beyond laser sources: Sunlight-generated photon pairs suggest that quantum imaging may not always require tightly controlled laser illumination.
- 2Lower-dose X-rays: Entangled X-ray ghost imaging points toward imaging small samples with reduced dose, while practical performance remains to be established.
- 3From correlations to systems: Progress depends not only on producing correlated photons but also on detecting them efficiently and reconstructing useful images under noise.
Top organizations working on quantum imaging
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to quantum imaging. Showing 7 of 117 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Research · United States |
Correlation-based ghost imaging | PUB 1 · NEWS 5 | -100% | Los Alamos researchers use infrared quantum ghost imaging to examine living plants at low light levels, with the imaging light chosen to avoid disturbing the sample. |
| 2 | 
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Research · United States |
Correlation-based ghost imaging | PUB 2 · NEWS 7 | new | Brookhaven researchers used entangled X-ray photon pairs to produce ghost images of tiny samples, demonstrating a route toward nanoscale imaging with lower X-ray dose. |
| 3 | NI
NSLS II
Research · United States |
Correlation-based ghost imaging | NEWS 6 | new | The National Synchrotron Light Source II is the Brookhaven facility where researchers produced ghost images using entangled X-ray photon pairs. |
| 4 | NS
National Synchrotron Light Source II
Research · United States |
Correlation-based ghost imaging | NEWS 6 | new | Researchers at this Brookhaven synchrotron facility used entangled X-ray photon pairs for ghost imaging of tiny samples. |
| 5 | TA
The Australian National University
Research · Australia |
Quantum-enhanced imaging | PUB 3 · NEWS 4 | -100% | ANU researchers are developing quantum imaging with spatially entangled photon pairs generated by a thin nonlinear metasurface, a platform that could make imaging setups smaller and tunable. |
| 6 | 
University of Melbourne
Research · Australia |
Quantum-enhanced imaging | PUB 1 · NEWS 4 | -100% | University of Melbourne researchers collaborate on quantum imaging with spatially entangled photon pairs generated by a nonlinear metasurface, supporting compact and tunable imaging approaches. |
| 7 | 
Xiamen University
Research · China |
Correlation-based ghost imaging | PUB 4 · NEWS 3 | new | Recently, researchers at Xiamen University studied infrared ghost imaging with a wavelength-nondegenerate thermal-light source; they have also demonstrated ghost imaging using photon pairs generated with sunlight. |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Leading research centers
Leading research institutions 111 total
- Brookhaven National LaboratoryUnited StatesBrookhaven researchers used entangled X-ray photon pairs to produce ghost images of tiny samples, demonstrating a route toward nanoscale imaging with lower X-ray dose.
- TAThe Australian National UniversityAustraliaANU researchers are developing quantum imaging with spatially entangled photon pairs generated by a thin nonlinear metasurface, a platform that could make imaging setups smaller and tunable.
- Xiamen UniversityChinaRecently, researchers at Xiamen University studied infrared ghost imaging with a wavelength-nondegenerate thermal-light source; they have also demonstrated ghost imaging using photon pairs generated with sunlight.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where quantum imaging innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 117 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correlation-based ghost imaging | Correlations between detected photons reconstruct an object’s image; coincidence detection and losses can limit speed and image quality. | 92 |
U.S. Department of Energy, Science Office, Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Quantum holography | Entangled photons encode image information for holographic reconstruction; phase recovery can be demanding and depends on reliable photon-pair detection. | 60 |
MicroCloud Hologram Inc, Www.Sec.Gov, Edgar, Dunn & Company |
| Undetected-photon imaging | An image can be formed using correlations with photons that did not interact with the object; the indirect setup adds optical and reconstruction complexity. | 52 |
U.S. Department of Energy, Science Office, Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Quantum illumination | Correlated quantum light can help distinguish weak target returns from background noise; the advantage depends on maintaining useful correlations and sensitive detection. | 16 |
The Australian National University, ANU, Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory |
| Quantum-enhanced imaging | Nonclassical light can improve imaging sensitivity or resolution; source losses and detector inefficiency can erode the quantum advantage. | 43 |
Laval University, University of Toronto, Dalian University of Technology |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
FACTS records $86,023,403 in grant funding across 49 grants since 2020. Separately, its funding-round entries total $349,207,020 across 8 rounds; these figures are distinct and should not be treated as a single quantum-imaging-specific award.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Oct 2026Split a beam of light in two and direct one beam (the reference) to a multipixel camera and the other (the signal) to an object to be imaged and to a single-pixel detector beyond it. Measuring correlations between…Recent Articles in Physics
- Oct 2026Researchers have developed an X-ray technique that mapped a sample’s three-dimensional chemical structure 43 times faster than a conventional approach. In the demonstration, it used more than 97% fewer measurements…Knowridge Science Report
- Aug 2026SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MicroCloud Hologram Inc. (NASDAQ: HOLO) (the “Company” or “HOLO”), a technology services provider, today announced that the Company has completed the acquisition of…GlobeNewswire - Mergers And Acquisitions
- Jun 2026Entangled photons tend to arrive at the same position simultaneously. This is the basis of quantum imaging: In a type of imaging called quantum image distillation, quantum light is distinguished from classical light by…News & Analysis from AIP
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about quantum imaging
Which universities and research centers lead quantum imaging research?
Brookhaven National Laboratory, The Australian National University, Xiamen University, and Kyoto University are among the active research centers. Brookhaven has worked on entangled X-ray ghost imaging, while Xiamen University studies infrared and sunlight-driven ghost imaging. Other active groups include EPFL and Friedrich - Schiller University of Jena, with work spanning microscopy, holography, and imaging with undetected light.
How much funding has quantum imaging received?
FACTS records $86,023,403 in grants across 49 grants since 2020. It separately lists 8 funding rounds totaling $349,207,020. These are distinct database measures, and the funding-round entries include broad institutional funding records, so the totals should not be read as a single dedicated quantum-imaging budget.
Who holds the most quantum imaging patents?
RMIT University, Louisiana State University, and Melbourne Institute of Technology are tied with 1 patent each in the listed patent-holder data. The holder list does not identify a single leading organization. FACTS also reports 2 patents in the 24-month window, so the named holder counts should not be taken as a complete ranking of all patent activity.
Is quantum imaging patent activity growing?
FACTS records 2 patents in the 24-month window, but it does not report a patent-growth percentage. The available figures therefore show limited recent patent activity without establishing a direction of change. The field’s activity is more visible in publications, with 169 publications in 2025.
How mature is quantum imaging?
FACTS lists 111 research organizations and 6 companies, indicating a field led by research activity rather than a broad supplier base. Demonstrations include entangled X-ray ghost imaging and sunlight-driven photon-pair imaging, but these results do not establish routine commercial deployment. System performance still depends on source brightness, detector efficiency, noise control, and reliable image reconstruction.
What are the latest developments in quantum imaging?
Recent developments include Xiamen University’s sunlight-driven ghost imaging in May 2026 and Brookhaven National Laboratory’s entangled-X-ray ghost imaging in February 2026. Other recent research examines quantum optical coherence tomography with artifact removal, entangled two-photon microscopy for bone tissue, and noise-resistant biphoton imaging. Together, these efforts explore new light sources, sample types, and ways to improve image quality.
What are the main approaches in quantum imaging and how do they differ?
The main approaches in FACTS are correlation-based ghost imaging, quantum holography, undetected-photon imaging, quantum illumination, and quantum-enhanced imaging. Ghost imaging reconstructs an object from photon correlations, while holography uses correlated photons for image reconstruction. Undetected-photon methods rely on indirect correlations; quantum illumination targets noisy backgrounds, and quantum-enhanced methods seek gains in sensitivity or resolution.
Which countries lead quantum imaging?
The United States leads the listed country activity with 557 documents, followed by China with 378 and the United Kingdom with 323. Germany, Japan, Italy, and Australia also appear among the active countries. These figures describe document counts in FACTS, not a direct measure of commercial capability or the quality of research.
What are the applications of quantum imaging?
FACTS identifies biomedical imaging, X-ray and materials imaging, remote sensing and defense, astronomy and space imaging, and industrial inspection as application areas. Examples include entangled X-ray imaging of tiny samples, low-light imaging of living plants, and research into biological microscopy. These applications have different constraints, including sample dose, target distance, background noise, and imaging speed.